Only your teenagers will be able to appreciate this landmark, but it’s still worth a short stop, especially if you plan to visit Higgs Beach. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site tells the story of hundreds of African refugees who sought peace in Key West in 1860; they were otherwise destined to be slaves in Cuba. Key West’s townspeople graciously welcomed the refugees, providing them with clothing, shelter and food, but it was not enough — 295 of them died. In recent years, nine of the bodies were discovered and buried near the historic landmark, which commemorates their lives through art and poetry.
Higgs Beach African Graves
Key West, FL
